herbs-significant, as the Apostle shows, of the only state of mind in which we can partake of the true supper of the Lamb: viz., "with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth;" and in that penitent condition of soul, by which we are brought through the strait gate, into the narrow way of humiliation and self-denial. And, as the passover was eaten in haste, and with the requisite equipment for the journey before them, so must the visited children of the Most High strive, without any delay, to seek an interest in Christ; and, fleeing from the wrath to come,

run with patience the race set before" them. And as no man was to share his neighbour's lamb, nor suffer any part to be eaten, save in his own dwelling, so the Christian cannot impart to another the efficacious virtue of divine life: "No man can redeem his brother"-every soul must work out its " salvation with fear and trembling," through the power of the grace of God. And as no foreigner or hired servant could partake thereof, so none but the spiritual Israel, none but those who, by regeneration, are become the seed of faithful Abraham, can feed on this

own

heavenly passover. The lamb was to be eaten without a bone being broken; which, as the beloved disciple of Christ testifies, was typical and prophetic of the crucified body of the Lord Jesus. And the month of their deliverance from the bondage of Egypt was, ever after, the beginning of the year to the Israelites! a striking type of that new life which the soul experiences that becomes converted to God, and redeemed from the bondage of sin.

ousness

CHAP. XXXII.-During the ages that preceded the coming of the Messiah-God manifest in flesh-there was, by divine appointment, a long period of preparation for the revealing of that perfect law of righte"the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus," which superseded the external ordinations of the Mosaic economy, and very gradually, through the ceremonial observances of that dispensation, and by the light of prophetic vision, was the nature of the Christian covenant shadowed forth. We have, in the last chapter, dwelt on the institution of the feast of the passover, and

have seen how remarkably it typified the redemption which is in Christ; but it was reserved for the disciples of Jesus to behold the full unfolding of the glorious mystery which was veiled under the carnal ordinance. We find that John the Baptist, who was sent to bear witness of Christ, and to prepare the way before him, thus announced him to the Jews, "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world!" And the Apostle Peter testifies to the early believers, that they were redeemed "by the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot; who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times." And the Apostle John, describing the heavenly visions which he beheld, when, in the Isle of Patmos, he was in the Spirit on the Lord's day," recites the anthem of glorified saints, who "fell down before the Lamb," and, with harps, sang the " new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and

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nation." Thus is clearly indicated the blessed truth that, from the beginning to the end of time, every soul that has been admitted into the kingdom of God has been ransomed by the blood of Jesus. His propitiatory sacrifice was as effectual for the salvation of man before He came to suffer in our nature, as it is for those who are privileged to live in these glorious gospel days. And the antecedent efficacy of " the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all," is strikingly marked by the Apostle's testimony that He was "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

But how solemn is the infinitely important consideration, that, in order to experience the sprinkling of the blood of our Paschal Lamb, we must, by yielding to the convictions of the Spirit of Truth, come unto Christ in living faith, and, by the washing of regeneration and the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire, become cleansed from sin, and "made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light."

CHAP. XXXIII.-" And Pharaoh called

for Moses and Aaron," in that awful night when the angel of the Lord smote throughout the land," and said unto them, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said." And the Egyptians were urgent upon them, to "send them out of the land in haste." Then the Hebrews went forth, and journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, and a mixed multitude went up with them, and flocks and herds, even very much cattle. "Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years." This computation reckons the entire period included between the promise being given to Abraham, and the exodus of his descendants from Egypt:-two hundred and fifteen years were passed by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the land of Canaan, and the same space of time was spent by their children in Egypt. And when they had fulfilled the years which, according to the word of the Lord, they were to be strangers in countries that were not theirs, "all the hosts of the Lord" went forth from the land of Egypt: and "the Lord went before them, by